Professional Dog Walking in San Francisco

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Wouldn’t it be great to save money and know that the cleaning products you use are safe for your family? Pets and small children alike are curious creatures which is wonderful and dangerous at the same time. Having a stash of cleaners with toxic chemicals in them could spell disaster if they fell into the wrong hands. That’s why making your own natural cleaning products are such a great idea. They are safe, just as effective, and often are much more economical.

What You Need:

Baking Soda is a natural deodorizer and stain remover. Since it is naturally abrasive ingredient with mild alkaline properties, it works great as a surface cleaner. Plus, those surfaces stay safely non-toxic after they are cleaned, protecting both your pets and your kids.

Vinegar is can remove stains, sanitize and disinfectant that can remove stains. Just don’t use it on stone surfaces or acetate fabrics

Hydrogen Peroxide is a disinfectant with bleaching and stain removing properties. It’s also extremely inexpensive

All Natural Grapefruit Oil And Lemon Juice aren’t exactly necessary, but they are great to have on hand. Grapefruit oil has antibacterial properties and lemon juice naturally cuts grease and leaves a nice fresh scent.

Liquid Castile Soap (ex: Dr. Bronner’s) This is a vegetable based soap which makes it non-toxic. It’s not as inexpensive as the other ingredients, but you usually buy a large bottle that stretches since you only use a little in combination with the other natural cleaners.

Combinations for All Natural Cleaners:

All Purpose Liquid Cleaner:

1 gallon hot water

1 tbsp baking soda

2 tbsp liquid soap (like the Dr. Bronner’s)

All Purpose Abrasive Cleaner:

Mix the following make a foamy paste for polishing or deep cleaning:

2 tbsp liquid soap

2 tbsp. baking soda

Drain Cleaner:

1 cup baking soda first

1 cup white vinegar second

1 gallon boiling water

Allow to foam for 3-5 minutes before pouring the boiling water down the drain

Carpet Stain Remover:

vinegar

baking soda

Mix vinegar and baking soda into a paste. Gently work into stain with a small brush (like an old toothbrush). Let dry completely and then vacuum.

Carpet Deodorizer:

Baking soda

10 drops of essential oil (optional)

Mix together then sprinkle liberally on your carpet, wait about 15 minutes and then vacuum.

All-Purpose Carpet Cleaner:

After vacuuming first,

1 cup white vinegar

3 cups boiling water

Use mixture to dab the soiled part of the of rug with a wet rag, let it dry and then vacuum.

Next time you have a mess on your hands try reaching for theses handy natural cleaning products instead of the harsh chemicals. It’s great to know that my family can roll around on a clean floor without added chemicals.

Christmas time can sometimes conjure up images of adorable little puppies popping out of adorably wrapped presents underneath the tree. And when you bring home a pet for your loved ones as a present, it can be an awesome surprise.

Whether it’s a dog, cat, bunny, hamster or lizard, there are a lot of things to consider before you bring home a pet as a gift. Here are a few things to think about before taking the pet gift plunge.

Who will be giving the primary care?

You may be dying to give your child a pet (I know I am!). But children, or even busy adults are not always ready for the responsibility. Puppies and kittens need a lot of attention and care. If you’re gifting a pet as a present you need to make sure that the recipient is ready for task. Or at least make sure that you’re aware you will be sharing the responsibility.

Have you considered all of the supplies you need?

Other than costs of adoption and shots, there are a lot of other supplies that pets need. From cages, food, leashes, toys and treats, expenses for pets go on more than just the initial purchase. Everyone involved needs to be aware of the extra monthly costs needed.

Do you know exactly how much care and time they will need?

Puppies and kittens need almost constant supervision and care. That translates into a lot of time, I mean… a lot of time. From house training, litter training, cage cleaning, etc., the hours spent caring for animals can add up.

We all love pets and we want the best for them. However, it’s more than just loving the idea of having a pet or giving a pet. There is actual care and time involved that goes on for much longer than the giving season. In fact, I’ve been on both sides of this equation and understand them both. We’ve had to give away pets we couldn’t keep and also taken in pets that our friends couldn’t handle. What matters is their lives, care, and comfort. So please, make sure that you know that this gift is a forever friend and a forever family member before you make them a gift.

In general we don’t really think about the holidays being hazardous. But for our pets, on the other hand…well, they an get into a few sticky situations with all the extra food, festivities, and decorations around. And that’s why we’re sharing these holiday safety tips to guarantee your pet’s well-being this year.

FOOD HAZARDS:

Vets see more food related incidents during the holidays than any other time of year. Thankfully these incidents are completely avoidable.

Watch out for Xylitol – First off, check all sugar-free treats for the ingredient Xylitol. If you have treats that contain this artificial sweetener then make sure it is kept far away from your pets. This is EXTREMELYTOXIC and will likely kill them if ingested. If you think your dog may still get to them, play it safe and throw it out.

Say no to table scraps – Your pet may be pleading for leftovers. And with those adorable soft eyes, it can be really hard to say now. However, they may not be able to digest them well and the change in diet can cause gastrointestinal issues. Lean cuts of meat are a great treat; just make sure there are no bones.

Get rid of that trash bag – Make sure after large meals or parties that the trash is taken out as soon as you can. And of course, keep chocolate out of reach as well as raw dough and alcoholic beverages. Any of these could land you in the vet’s office before the New Year.

PARTIES:

Throwing a holiday party is great fun for us, but it can make your pets anxious and even increase chances that they get lost.

Set them up in a safe room – For most pets the best place to be is tucked safely away in a quiet room. Set them up with their bed, toys, some treats and a little ambient noise like a soft TV or radio. And don’t forget to check on them often!

Make sure they have proper ID & tags – In case they do happen to get out in the shuffle at the front door, having updated tags and microchips will help get them home as quickly as possible.

ORNAMENTS & GIFTS:

We love our decor from ornaments to festive figurines and you can’t forget about the presents under the tree! Some ornaments and gifts can cause a little bit of trouble for our pets.

Place salt dough ornaments at the top and securely to the tree – I saw a story the other day that broke my heart. A dog ingested a homemade salt dough ornament and ended up having to be put down. The family was devastated as you could imagine.

Avoid stringing the tree with edible decorations – Things like popcorn and cranberry strands. While the food themselves aren’t that harmful, the string could get tied up in their intestines causing major damage.

Don’t put food gifts under the tree – Even with the cats putting gift baskets with smoked meat and yummy cheese can easily be too tempting for our pets. If they break into it, they could be ingesting more than food.

Scale back on the little curly ribbons – Those little ribbons you curl with scissors can look fantastic when they’re piled up. But they tend to move with the slight breeze, practically beckoning your pets to play with them. When

BATTERIES:

Another thing vets get a lot of during the holiday are calls about pets eating batteries.

Keep batteries on top shelves – Store away from curious pets that may think they are just another Christmas treat.

Don’t leave out toys – Toys can often go off by themselves when the batteries start to die (creepy, right?!). This could be all it takes to get a pet to go from bored to “destroy the noise thing!”

Throughout the year – make sure to keep remotes or any other battery operated devices out of your pet’s reach. Chewing on something with batteries could easily mean accidentally ingesting one which could be potentially fatal.

We all want to have a Merry Christmas, that’s why keeping these holiday safety tips in mind is so important. Our fur family deserves the best and no one wants to be at the vet or caring for a sick pet over the holidays when it is so easy to prevent.

The turkey is being carved, sides dishes being served…and belts are being loosened. In my family we call that “Dunlap Disease” as in “your belly has done lapped over your belt!” And the best way to fight it is with some fresh air and a walk around the park.

With the extra time off during the Thanksgiving weekend, hitting up the local dog park is a great idea. That’s why we compiled the top 7 in the San Francisco. Just click the title for more details and maps.

With all these great parks, there is no reason to sit around this weekend with a bloated belly. So, as soon as you wake up from the food coma, make plans to hit up one of them and walk off that turkey!

It can be hard decided what to get your friends and family during the holiday season. But if you have a pet parent on your list, you’re in luck! We have the top 5 gifts for the animal lover in your life.

This hand new device will help you find lost pets quickly – Whistle GPS notifies you if your pet ever roams from a safe area you designate for your home or office. Then you can track their location directly from your smartphone.

Bring a daily laugh to the animal lover in your life with his hilarious calendar is based on the witty and sometimes rude SMS exchange between Dog, the foul-mouthed British bulldog, and his owner, October Jones.

We all wonder what our pets are up to while we’re not around. Or want to see our walks from their point of view. That’s why this awesome collar cam is perfect. It records up to 1.5 of video and you never know what video could go viral!

Sometimes gift giving can be tricky, but you’re lucky if you have an animal lover in your life. Our pets make up a part of our heart and that’s why we love getting gifts that include them.

Our pets are always there for us. Good days, bad days, average days; our furry family members bring their own little bit of joy and love to them all. And as pet parents, we’re very thankful for them too. That’s why this Thanksgiving is the perfect time to show them our appreciation.

Making them their own Thanksgiving plate is a great place to start. However, as you probably know, feeding them our table food is not exactly good for them. Luckily there are some things you can prepare for them while you’re cooking that they will love!

Lean white meat turkey

Cats and dogs both can enjoy some of this year’s turkey. Just make sure it is lean, skinless pieces of white meat. The grease from the skin and dark meay can upset their tummies. And make sure not to give your pets any meat with bones, they could ingest bone splinters which can lead to pretty serious conditions like internal bleeding and death.

Plain Potatoes & vegetables

While you’re making up your mashed potatoes, yams, carrots and green bean casserole, set some aside for you pup. Before you laden them with all of our decadent add-ons like cream, butter, spices, dip them out a serving. Our pet’s stomachs can’t handle rich food we enjoy, but they can enjoy fresh vegetables. Plus, the bonus of knowing their eating the same food as you!

Pumpkin

Almost everyone loves pumpkin this time of year. And it’s especially good for our pets. But, don’t make the mistake of thinking pumpkin pie filling is the same as fresh pumpkin. It’s not the same. If you want to give your dog a special Thanksgiving dessert treat, think of giving him some fresh, pureed, plain pumpkin.

Homemade treats

If you have some extra time and you’re in the kitchen, why not make them they’re own little treat? It can be pretty easy to whip up some home made treats just for them. They are sure to love you for it! Check out these awesome treat recipes from Rover.com.

It’s pretty simple to include your pets into your Thanksgiving meal and we should. After all, we are very thankful for them too!

Fall is here and the holidays are near. But we’re not the only ones dreaming about our homes filling with sweet aroma of Thanksgiving food. Our little four-legged friends enjoy it too. I mean, think of how fantastic it smells to us and we only have a fraction of the olfaction that they do.

Planning the big feast is a big undertaking. Most of our kitchens turn into a bustle of activity, food, family and fun. It’s easy for our pets to get mixed in all of the commotion. Knowing a few good safety tips will help make sure they stay safe and healthy.

1. Talk to guests about table scraps

While it’s fine to give your pets a little taste of lean turkey and fresh veggies, make sure guests know that table scraps are not allowed. It can be terribly hard to say no to those pleading eyes, but it could lead to a world of digestive issues.

2. Immediately dispose of trash bags with food waste

Our pets know that there are delicious little samples of Thanksgiving in those bags. If you get distracted they can easily try to tear into it. Needless to say there are tons of things in there that could make them sick, not to mention the mess!

3. Keep an eye on children’s interactions with pets

Pets and children can be the best of friends, but they can also be double trouble. That’s why keeping an eye on both of them is very important.

4. Give them a quiet area

If your pets are nervous or flight risks, it may be best to set them up a room just for them. Let guests know that room is off limits. Put tons of toys and treats, along with their bed. Then turn on a radio or the TV on low volume to drown out the noise and help them relax.

5. Make sure they have on updated tags

With guests coming in and out there is always a chance your pet could get out. That’s why it is imperative that their microchips and tags are current.

6. Make arrangements if you’re going out of town

If you’re leaving for the weekend, making sure your pets are taken care of is very important. They can get into a lot of trouble on their own (spilt water bowls, trapped or tangled in cords, etc). Hiring a pet sitter or setting them up for boarding will ensure they are safe.

We all want to have a successful and joyful Thanksgiving and taking just a few moments to check off a safety list goes a long way.

Stayed tuned next week for some great recipes and treat ideas for your pets to eat this Thanksgiving.

Most of us have long days. Waking up early in the morning, putting a solid 8 hours at work, running errands afterwards, then finally getting home when it’s dark. Even though it is hard being away from home all those hours, it’s something we have to do.

Working all those hours also means much needed (and earned) vacation time. So even if you have a job where you can give your pet proper potty breaks, walks and interaction, at some point you’re going to need a nice relaxing vacation. Sometimes your pets can come on vacation with you, but sometimes they need to stay at home.

These are all times when you need to hire a dog walker or pet sitter. And there are tons of benefits of hiring a professional.

Companionship and interaction – While you’re at work, volunteering, or even have a long day of errands, your pets are at home…waiting. They look out of the window, they pace, they look out the window some more. Then they may even decided to fight the boredom with mischief. Pet sitters come in and play with your pets, walk your dogs, clean and refresh food and water bowls – breaking up the monotony of hours alone.

Potty breaks and exercise – It’s not easy to go hours on end without going potty. Even if your dog can go all day without messes in the house, it doesn’t mean that it’s good for them to go that long. The added bonus of potty breaks is walking! Walking is imperative to your pet’s health. It keeps obesity at bay while strengthening their muscles and stimulating their minds.

Peace of mind while you’re away – Whether you’re gone for the day or on a vacation, knowing your pet is being taken care of is priceless. When a professional is taking care of your pet there is no doubt that they are in good hands.

This is where hiring a professional is truly beneficial because professional sitters and walkers are:

Covered by the correct/necessary insurances to make sure you aren’t liable if something does go wrong.

As you can see there are TONS of great reasons to hire a pet sitter or dog walker. If you’re looking to find out more, make sure to contact us for a consultation. We are here to make sure your pets are healthy and happy!

Some people may wonder what it’s like to be a dog walker or a pet sitter. Every day is different, but typically, there’s a routine. For us here at Sniff and Go, we have a number of steps we take at every visit to ensure our furry friends are well taken care of.

Today, I saw a couple named Wallace and Darwin. Both Wallace and Darwin are German Shepherds (or a mix of) and get along quite well with each other! Before actually taking care of these pups, a meeting with their owners always takes place to ensure we are all on the same page when it comes to the duties that need to be completed and things to be aware of.

For Wallace (pictured above), he’s an older fellow. He moves a bit slower and likes to keep his distance from his very energetic doggy sister. Darwin and Wallace are super stoked to have a very cool backyard that allows them to run around and do their bathroom business. Since Wallace appreciates taking his time and Darwin likes to run laps, backyard play lets them both do their preferred methods of exercise.

Darwin (pictured below) is almost the complete opposite from Wallace in terms of energy. She could probably play fetch for hours if we let her! You see, the trick is to gather multiple tennis balls. If you throw one, she will run after it to fetch it, but then she likes to hold on to it. That’s why you have multiple tennis balls… She will drop the one in her mouth by your feet to go after the one you have just tossed. She’s getting smart to this game though – she’s learned how to fit multiple balls in her mouth! The most I’ve seen her carry is two🎾🎾, but I always have more so this routine is non stop for her and she loves it!

After lots of running for Darwin and sunbathing for Wallace, it’s time to wrap it up and bring the pups back inside.

Their water bowl is refreshed with clean cool water and they each get a frozen Kong filled with treats topped off with peanut butter.

I say my goodbyes and secure their home to complete the visit.

As I walk out of their home, I’ve got layers of dirt and lots of slobber on my jeans… But a smile on my face😊.

Hello there Pet Friends!

Please allow us to introduce ourselves – We are a team of professional dog walkers and pet sitters in San Francisco, CA. We have successfully completed 1,000s of visits throughout the years as we strive to be the best caretakers possible when it comes to dog walking and pet sitting services.

Below, you’ll find a general list of services that we provide.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have whether it’s about our business, the services we offer, our staff or just general questions about dog walking and pet sitting.

Thank you for visiting and check back for regular updates!

Specialties

We service almost all of San Francisco including:
-Western Addition
-Noe Valley
-Castro
-Bernal Heights
-Mission District
-Pacific Heights
-Twin Peaks
-Marina
-SOMA

Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8am to 4pm (you can always contact us and we will get back to you as soon as possible at any time of day!)

History

Established in 2009.

At Sniff and Go, we believe that being a truly great dog-walking and pet-sitting service is all about making owners happy and pets even happier. We insist that there’s no limit to the peace-of-mind that a pet service can provide for its clients, and so, we’ve partnered with an innovative method for tracking the entirety of our visit, keeping you informed on everything from the walking route we traveled with your pet, their bathroom activity, and even photos and notes about how the visit went.

We love your pets as much as you do, and we look forward to ensuring that you return to find them safe, healthy, and as happy as can be. Reach out to us today and let Sniff and Go become your best friend’s second-best friend!